Method and apparatus for selecting among calling options in a wireless communication device

Abstract

A method and apparatus for selecting among calling options in a wireless communications device is provided. A determination is made as to whether a calling option mode is to be selected, and if the calling option mode is selected, a plurality of calling options are displayed. The user selects a calling option from the plurality of displayed calling options, and a call is originated as a function of the selected calling option. The calling options include originating a call billable to a calling card account, originating a call using a paging service, and originating a call using a text messaging facility. A displayed set-up option corresponding to a calling option set-up facility is also provided.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method of selecting among calling options in a wireless communications device, comprising: 
       determining whether a calling option mode is to be selected;  
       displaying calling options if a calling option mode has been selected, wherein the displaying calling options step includes displaying a calling option corresponding to originating a call using a paging service;  
       selecting one calling option from a plurality of displayed calling options;  
       originating a call as a function of the selected calling option;  
       selecting the calling option corresponding to originating a call using a paging service;  
       automatically retrieving a stored, call-back telephone number;  
       automatically originating a call to the paging service using a paging service access telephone number entered or selected before the determining step;  
       automatically transmitting the retrieved, call-back telephone number in response to receiving a dial tone; and  
       automatically transmitting a signal indicative of an end-of-transmission after the call-back telephone number is transmitted.  
     
     
       2. A method of selecting among calling options in a wireless communications device, comprising: 
       determining whether a calling option mode is to be selected;  
       displaying calling options if a calling option mode has been selected, wherein the displaying calling options step includes displaying a calling option corresponding to originating a call using a paging service;  
       selecting one calling option from a plurality of displayed calling options;  
       originating a call as a function of the selected calling option;  
       selecting the calling option corresponding to originating a call using a paging service;  
       automatically retrieving a stored, call-back telephone number;  
       automatically originating a call to the paging service using a paging service access telephone number entered or selected before the determining step;  
       automatically transmitting the retrieved, call-back telephone number in response to receiving a dial tone;  
       automatically transmitting a signal indicative of an end-of-transmission after the call-back telephone number is transmitted; and  
       wherein the call-back telephone number is a mobile identification number of the device.  
     
     
       3. A method of selecting among calling options in a wireless communications device, comprising: 
       determining whether a calling option mode is to be selected;  
       displaying calling options if a calling option mode has been selected, wherein the displaying calling options step includes:  
       displaying a first calling option corresponding to originating a call billable to a calling card account;  
       displaying a second calling option corresponding to originating a call using a paging service;  
       displaying a third calling option corresponding to originating a call and using a text messaging facility;  
       displaying a set-up option corresponding to a calling option set-up facility;  
       selecting one calling option from a plurality of displayed calling options;  
       originating a call as a function of the selected calling option;  
       selecting the set-up option;  
       entering a personal identification number to access the calling option set-up facility; and  
       storing at least one telephone number associated with one of the first and second calling options.  
     
     
       4. A method of selecting among calling options in a wireless communications device, comprising: 
       determining whether a calling option mode is to be selected;  
       displaying calling options if a calling option mode has been selected;  
       selecting one calling option from a plurality of displayed calling options;  
       originating a call as a function of the selected calling option; and  
       wherein the determining step comprises sensing whether a predetermined device key is depressed for at least a predetermined time interval; and the displaying calling options step is activated only after the predetermined device key has been continuously depressed for at least said predetermined time interval.  
     
     
       5. An apparatus for selecting among calling options in a wireless communications device, comprising: 
       means for determining whether a calling option mode is to be selected;  
       means for displaying a calling option corresponding to originating a call using a paging service if a calling option mode has been selected;  
       means for selecting the displayed calling option;  
       means for automatically retrieving a stored, call-back telephone number;  
       means for automatically originating a call to the paging service using a paging service access telephone number entered or selected using means for entering or selecting the paging service access telephone number;  
       means for receiving a dial tone and for automatically transmitting the retrieved call-back telephone number in response to receiving the dial tone; and  
       means for automatically transmitting a signal indicative of an end-of-transmission.  
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the call-back telephone number is a mobile identification number of the device. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus for selecting among calling options in a wireless communications device, comprising: 
       means for determining whether a calling option mode is to be selected;  
       means for displaying calling options if a calling option mode has been selected, wherein said displaying means includes means for displaying a set-up option corresponding to a calling option set-up facility;  
       means for selecting one calling option from a plurality of displayed calling options;  
       means for originating a call as a function of the selected calling option;  
       means for selecting the set-up option;  
       means for entering a personal identification number to access the calling option set-up facility; and  
       means for storing at least one telephone number associated with one of the first and second calling options in a memory of the device.  
     
     
       8. An apparatus for selecting among calling options in a wireless communications device, comprising: 
       means for determining whether a calling option mode is to be selected;  
       means for displaying calling options if a calling option mode has been selected;  
       means for selecting one calling option from a plurality of displayed calling options;  
       means for originating a call as a function of the selected calling option; and  
       wherein said determining means comprises time sensing means for sensing when a predetermined device key is depressed for at least a predetermined time interval to select the calling options mode.  
     
     
       9. A computer program product comprising computer usable media having computer readable program code means embodied in said media for causing application programs to execute on a computer processor in a wireless communication device to enable a user to select among calling options, said computer readable program code means comprising: 
       a first computer readable program code means for causing the processor to determine whether a calling option mode is to be selected;  
       a second computer readable program code means for causing the processor to display calling options if a calling option mode has been selected;  
       a third computer readable program code means for causing the processor to select one calling option from a plurality of displayed calling options;  
       a fourth computer readable program code means for causing the processor to originate a call as a function of the selected calling option; and  
       wherein the first program code means includes computer readable program code means for causing the processor to sense when a predetermined device key is depressed for at least a predetermined time interval to select the calling options mode.